Red, White & HOU! Southwest Airlines Announces New Nonstop Service Between Houston Hobby And Ronald Reagan Washington National

DALLAS, May 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) announced today that new service between Houston Hobby and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport will begin Aug. 4, 2013. The airline initially will operate one daily roundtrip flight between the two cities.

To celebrate the new service, the carrier announced introductory $149 one-way fares between Houston and Washington, DC available today through May 24, 2013, at 11:59 p.m. in the respective time zone of the originating city. Travel on August 4, 2013 through November 1, 2013. Travel valid only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Fares valid on nonstop service only. See full fare rules below.

"This new option on Southwest Airlines brings our Legendary Customer Service and Low Fares to tens of thousands of Customers who will travel the route each year between Reagan National and Houston Hobby," said Ron Ricks, Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President & Chief Legal & Regulatory Officer. "We owe great thanks to the thousands of Southwest Employees and Community Partners who joined a chorus of consumers asking that we be able to offer this needed service."

The U.S. Department of Transportation recently awarded slot exemptions for this service by selecting Southwest's application over competing applications by other airlines to serve other cities from Reagan National Airport.

The new route completes a triad of nonstop service options between Houston and the metropolitan airports in Boston, New York, and Washington, DC, and further underscores Southwest's commitment to business travelers who value these nonstop flights. Fliers who are Members of the frequent flier program, Rapid Rewards®, can earn double Rapid Rewards Points on already published service between Houston Hobby and Boston area airports (Boston Logan, Manchester, and Providence), as well as between Houston Hobby and New York (LaGuardia) for travel booked through Southwest Airlines and completed between June 16 to August 31, 2013. Members simply need to register at http://www.southwest.com/rapidrewards/promotion?f=26j14f7o prior to travel to participate in this promotion. See terms & conditions below. Fliers who are not yet Rapid Rewards Members may join at http://www.southwest.com/rapidrewards/promotion?f=26j14f7o.

Southwest has served Houston since June 18, 1971, and has more than 2,800 Houston-based Employees and currently operates 153 daily departures from Hobby Airport. Earlier this year, the Houston City Council approved Southwest's proposal to construct a new five-gate international facility at Hobby Airport. New near-international service on Southwest Airlines is scheduled to begin in 2015.

ADDITIONAL FARE RULES & RAPID REWARDS PROMOTION TERMS/CONDITIONS

Fares are available for purchase only on southwest.com or swabiz.com from May 20, 2013, through May 24, 2013, at 11:59 pm for the respective time zone of the originating city. Travel August 4, 2013, through Nov. 1, 2013. Travel valid only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Fares valid on nonstop service only. Displayed prices include all government taxes and fees. Seats are limited. Fares may vary by destinations, flight, and day of week and won't be available on some flights that operate during very busy travel times and holiday periods. Fares are available for one-way travel. Fares may be combined with other Southwest Airlines combinable fares. If combining with other fares, the most restrictive fare's rules apply. Fares are not combinable with Senior Fares. Sale fares may be available on other days of week, but not guaranteed. Fares are nonrefundable but may be applied toward future travel on Southwest Airlines as long as itineraries containing DING! or Wanna Get Away fare segments are cancelled at least ten minutes prior to scheduled departure (for travel beginning September 13, 2013). Fares are not available through Group Desk. Any change in itinerary may result in an increase in fare. Standby travel requires an upgrade to the Anytime fare. Fares are subject to change until ticketed. Offer applies to published, scheduled service only.

Rapid Rewards Member must register for the Rapid Rewards Select Route Double Points promotion between May 15, 2013 and August 31, 2013, and registration must be completed prior to commencement of travel. Valid on new reservations only. Member's flight must be booked through Southwest Airlines between May 15, 2013 and August 31, 2013 for travel between Houston Hobby and any of our three Boston-area destinations (Boston Logan, Manchester, and Providence) or between Houston Hobby and New York (LaGuardia) from June 16, 2013 through August 31, 2013. Member's flight must be completed between June 16, 2013 and August 31, 2013. Rapid Rewards account number must be entered at the time of booking. Rapid Rewards earned points are calculated using base fare and excise tax. Member will receive 12 bonus points per dollar spent on Business Select® Fares, ten bonus points on Anytime Fares, and six bonus points on Wanna Get Away® Fares. Bonus points are in addition to the standard flight points earned through Rapid Rewards. Bonus points will not count toward A-List, A-List Preferred, or Companion Pass qualification. Member will receive bonus points within four days after completion of entire ticket. Award, Companion Pass, Southwest Vacations℠ Packages, Jackpot Deals®, and reward travel do not qualify for this promotion. Changes made to the itinerary after purchase may eliminate qualification for promotion. Southwest Airlines operated flights booked through AirTran® Airways are not eligible for promotion. All Rapid Rewards rules and regulations apply.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 42^nd year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by nearly 46,000 Employees to more than 100 million Customers annually.  Southwest is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating passengers boarded, and including wholly-owned subsidiary, AirTran Airways, operates the largest fleet of Boeing aircraft in the world to serve 97 destinations in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and six near-international countries. Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People and Planet.  To read about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good corporate citizen, visit southwest.com/citizenship to read the Southwest Airlines One Report™.

Southwest Airlines
From its first flights on June 18, 1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented affordability in air travel quantified by the U.S. Department of Transportation as "The Southwest Effect," a lowering of fares and increase in passenger traffic wherever the carrier serves.  On every flight, Southwest offers Customers the first two pieces of checked luggage (weight and size limitations apply) and all ticket changes without additional fees. Southwest's all Boeing fleet consistently offers leather seating and the comfort of full-size cabins, many of which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi connectivity and a new, sustainable cabin interior.  With 40 consecutive years of profitability, the People of Southwest operate more than 3,200 flights a day and serve communities around 78 airports in Southwest's network of domestic destinations.  Southwest Airlines' frequent flights and low fares are available only at southwest.com.

AirTran Airways
AirTran Airways, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co., offers coast-to-coast and near-international service with close to 600 flights a day to 54 destinations.  The carrier's high-quality product includes assigned seating and Business Class. As Southwest continues to integrate AirTran's People, places, and planes into Southwest Airlines, Customers of both carriers may book flights at airtran.com and exchange earned loyalty points between both AirTran's A+ Rewards® and Southwest's Rapid Rewards® for reward travel on either airline.

southwest.com

SOURCE Southwest Airlines

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